Preview: Crystal Palace vs Brighton and Hove Albion

In the 99th meeting between the sides, Palace host Brighton for the first time since 2013’s Championship play-off semi-final hoping to continue their recent good record against the Seagulls.

The Eagles have lost just one of their last eight home games against their arch-rivals, which will hand them a boost having not tasted success at Selhurst Park since January's win against Burnley - a run of four games.

Winless in their last three games, Brighton have been poor on their travels during their first season in the Premier League. They've won just twice and amassed 10 points on the road, with only Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion returning less. However, they are unbeaten against Palace during their previous five top-flight meetings.

Selhurst awaits goal-hungry Murray's return

In the third meeting of the sides this term, the south coast club managed to inflict a blow on Roy Hodgson’s team as they knocked them out of the FA Cup third round in January thanks to Glenn Murray’s late winner. The former Palace favourite could feature at Selhurst Park for the first time in his career as an opposition player, having bagged 13 goals already this term, 11 in the league.

Those have been crucial to Brighton’s survival chances. Chris Hughton would have taken their current league position if handed this situation at the start of the season, however they could have already secured their top-flight status had they not embarked on a run of one win from 14 games spanning the turn of the year.

That streak was broken in February as they picked up 10 points from their next four games to edge clear from danger, however defeats to Everton and Leicester City were followed by last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town. Albion are still looking nervously over their shoulder, especially should Palace claim three points on Saturday to move to within touching distance of their bitter rivals.

View From The Opposition

Chris Hughton: “The players are ready, but every game for us, particularly away from home, is difficult and our performances have been mixed.

“We’ve had some very good performances away from home this season and some good results. They’re the ones that you have to tune into. You can’t expect to go anywhere away from home and expect it to be comfortable.

“It will be a very good and big atmosphere, but what you have to be able to do it is enjoy it. You have to enjoy the challenge of going somewhere where it will favour the home side. But we have to look at the good results we’ve had away from home.”

Team News

Christian Benteke has taken part in training this week but continues to be assessed after missing last week's draw at Bournemouth with a groin strain, but Alexander Sørloth has recovered from his hamstring injury and trained all week.

Jeffrey Schlupp (ankle) and Connor Wickham (groin) are still out, while Jason Puncheon, Scott Dann and Bakary Sako are now the only long-term casualties.

Davy Propper will be suspended for this game after picking up a red card against Huddersfield last weekend, with Brighton failing with their appeal. Beram Kayal expected to deputise in central midfield while Anthony Knockaert will be available again after serving his three-game ban

Long-term casualties Steve Sidwell (back), Izzy Brown (knee) and Jiri Skalak (ankle) are all out of this game.

Matchday Officials

For the third time this season, Andre Marriner has been placed in charge of Palace v Brighton, and has only dished out three yellow cards in those encounters. He also oversaw the Eagles' home games against Swansea City, Chelsea and Newcastle United, but Palace have only won six times on the 22 occasions he has officiated them.

Matchday Stats

Wilfried Zaha has scored three goals in seven appearances against Brighton – against no other team has he scored more goals against in his career.

Luka Milivojevic has scored in his last three games and is the first Palace midfielder to score 10 goals in a single Premier League season.

Indeed, the Serbian has scored in each of his last three Premier League games - the only Palace player to score in more consecutively is Neil Shipperley (five in a row between October and December 1997).

Shane Duffy has made more clearances (269) and more headed clearances (201) than any other player in the division this term.

Palace have lost just three of their last 14 games against Brighton in all competitions (W7 D4 L3).

There have been more own goals scored in Premier League games involving Brighton this season than any other team (6 in total - 5 against, 1 for).

The last time Brighton won twice against the Eagles in the same season was back in 1985/86 when they also won a Full Members Cup tie.

Brighton have scored fewer away Premier League goals this season than any other side (7), failing to score in seven of their last nine on the road.

Chris Hughton's side have conceded in each of their last 11 Premier League games - the longest current run without a clean sheet in the division.

Report: Crystal Palace 3-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Palace’s game of the season lived up to its billing as a Wilfried Zaha brace helped them to a 3-2 victory against Brighton and Hove Albion and clinch a huge victory in the context of their campaign.

Unbelievably all the scoring occurred in the first half with Zaha grabbing an early lead for his side which was doubled by James Tomkins, but after Glenn Murray pulled one back, Zaha doubled his tally to put the Eagles back in control.

However, Jose Izquierdo reduced the deficit before half-time which made for a nervy second half for all those clad in red and blue, but Roy Hodgson’s team bravely clung on to claim a massive victory – putting them just one point behind their opponents but, more crucially, six above the drop-zone.

Having waited 1,801 days for a visit from their bitter rivals, a sunkissed Selhurst was boisterous as the teams entered the fray and within five minutes of kick-off, the noise levels could be heard right across south London as the Eagles took control of proceedings by grabbing the opener.

Andros Townsend won an early corner which Luka Milivojevic cleverly played short to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who in turn returned it to the Serbian. The skipper drove a shot goalwards which Mathew Ryan saved, but it dropped perfectly for Zaha to prod home from a matter of centimetres to ignite a crazy opening 45.

Roy Hodgson’s team continued to press and Townsend saw a fine chest and volley from distance cause Ryan issues and the Aussie stopper could only bundle it around his post, but that would lead to the second goal on 14 minutes after an almighty scramble.

Townsend whipped an excellent delivery into the box which was met by the head of Tomkins, and his attempt was well blocked by the Seagulls keeper but the ball squirmed free. Eagles and Seagulls flocked towards it, and eventually James McArthur was able to drive a shot goalwards which was stopped on the line by the hand of Shane Duffy, but any controversy was avoided as Tomkins lashed home the rebound to put his team in firm control.

And they needed to be as just four minutes later, Brighton pulled a goal back with their first attack. Once again a corner did the damage as Pascal Gross’ delivery caused problems and Lewis Dunk was allowed a free header which he nodded towards the target, and from a similar distance as Zaha’s opener, Murray hooked the ball in off the bar to net against his former club for the second successive game.

The jubilant home fans were stunned, but that feeling was fleeting as a crazy half continued in Palace’s favour as a third goal in a 10 minute spell fell to the hosts. Milivojevic lofted a scooped pass into the area that was begging for someone to attack, and just as he famously did in the play-off semi-final five years ago, Zaha dived in and drove a header past the helpless Ryan to return Selhurst to its ecstatic state.

Looking for his first career hat-trick, the Ivorian teased his way past Gaetan Bong to hit a grasscutter at Ryan, but despite a lack of possession in the final third during the first half, Brighton’s clincialness dragged them back into the game again on 34 minutes. Jurgen Locadia held the ball up and played in the overlapping Izquierdo who escaped past Joel Ward and bent a shot around Wayne Hennessey’s dive, find the far corner and net the Seagulls’ second from just two first half attempts on target.

Only an excellent low stop by Ryan prevented Palace taking a two-goal lead into the break when Milivojevic had a go from distance, but while the half-time whistle allowed everyone inside Selhurst to allow their brood pressure to drop, 15 minutes after play restarted Palace hearts were in mouth when Murray stretched to reach a Beram Kayal pass but thankfully his shot trickled wide.

It was always unlikely that the second half would match the drama of its predecessor, but while it may have been lacking in goalmouth action, the nerves continued to build around the old ground as the minutes ticked by, especially with the visitors creating the only chances of note and Palace’s recent record of conceding late heartbreakers.

Fingernails were being bitten with eight minutes to go when Hennessey was forced to produce an excellent reaction save to deny Dale Stephens from long range after the Welshman had punched away a cross, and in stoppage-time fans were peering through their fingers when a deep ball found Murray at the back post but he miskicked when well-positioned and the chance went begging.

But minutes later, the relief poured into the SE25 skies as the final whistle was blown, handing the home supporters the chance to celebrate a victory on their own patch for the first time since January, at just the perfect time.

Next At Selhurst: Brighton Close To Sell-Out

Tickets for the home match aganst Brighton, on Saturday 14th April, are now available unbundled from both Leicester and West Brom, but are of limited availability.

Supporters who wish to purchase Brighton tickets online must have a minimum of 220 loyalty points, each supporter will be able to purchase up to two tickets per Client Reference.

Any supporter who has less than 220 points must book via the booking line or in person. Every supporter must have a previous purchase history, which must include purchases beyond West Brom or Leicester.

Supporters who do not currently have a Membership can purchase one to enable ticket purchase. However, to purchase tickets for the Brighton game you will need to phone the Box Office and have a purchase history (as referenced above). Click here to buy Membership.

Premium experiences can be purchased for this fixture, with no membership required. Learn more about the packages available by clicking here.